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Austin to Italy — The Surprising Journey of Blanton Museum of Art’s Guercino Masterpieces

Blanton Registrar Meredith Sutton shares a unique glimpse into the world of art transportation

Installation view at Scuderie del Quirinale
Installation view at Scuderie del Quirinale

When art lovers admire masterpieces in museums, they rarely consider the complex journey that these works often undertake. A recent exhibition at the Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome, Italy features two paintings by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri — better known as Guercino — on loan from the Blanton Museum of Art. Blanton Registrar Meredith Sutton personally traveled with the two pieces and provides insight into the complex process of inter-institutional art loans, including the safe transport and preservation of these artistic masterpieces. 

“It is part of the Blanton’s mission — to protect and keep the artwork safe for future generations,” explains Sutton. 

Installation view at Scuderie del Quirinale
Guercino installation view at Scuderie del Quirinale

The two Guercino masterpieces loaned to the Roman museum were “Landscape with Tobias and the Angel” (circa 1616–1617), a rare religious narrative landscape painted on copper, and “Saint Mary Magdalene” (1624–1625), a powerful depiction of the saint’s repentance and spiritual ascension. The paintings are part of the Suida-Manning Collection, a significant acquisition for the Blanton in 1999. 

The exhibit “Guercino. L’era Ludovisi a Roma” features 121 artworks from 68 institutions and offers a comprehensive look at Guercino’s influence on the Italian Baroque style. Guercino was known for his dramatic use of light and shadow, expressive figures and dynamic compositions. The painter, who was born into a peasant family and had the nickname “squinter,” was supported by the Ludvichi family, who commissioned many of his works. The exhibition showcases both his artistry and his relationship with the Ludvichi family. 

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The loan of the Guercino paintings to Rome not only allows Italian audiences to appreciate these masterpieces, but also fosters cultural exchange and collaboration between institutions. 

With more than 25 years of experience at the Blanton, Sutton plays a crucial role in facilitating loans. As the registrar, she manages the logistics of art transportation, from preparing condition reports to overseeing the construction of specialized travel crates — and even personally accompanying the paintings as a courier, as she did for the Guercino loan. This involved navigating customs, overseeing the loading and unloading of the crates and ensuring the artwork’s safe arrival at the Scuderie del Quirinale, the Italian heritage museum hosting the exhibition, which was once a papal horse stable. 

Blanton crate is loaded onto airplane
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Blanton Museum of Art Crate is Loaded Onto Airplane
Blanton crate palletized for shipment
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Blanton Crate Palletized for Shipment
Conservator examining Guercino_s Landscape
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Conservator Examining Guercino’s Landscape
Guercino, Landscape with Tobias and the Angel
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Guercino, Landscape with Tobias and the Angel
Meredith, Doug, and Tyler, in front of Pantheon
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Meredith, Doug, and Tyler, in Front of Pantheon
Scuderie del Quirinale collections staff and Blanton courier with Guercino_s Saint Mary Magdalene
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Scuderie del Quirinale Collections Staff and Blanton Courier with Guercino’s Saint Mary Magdalene
Sutton family, Vatican Museums
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Sutton Family, Vatican Museums

Sutton. “It’s highly valuable artwork that you’re guiding each step of the way.”

Sutton’s experiences offer a unique glimpse into the world of art transportation. She recounts waiting in cargo warehouses, witnessing the loading of artworks onto planes, and even sharing a cargo ship with nine jumping horses during a separate trip to retrieve an Alice Neel painting from Oslo. 

“A whole lot of crazy stuff happens on cargo flights,” laughs Sutton. “But the flight to Italy was very smooth.”

Despite the challenges, Sutton finds the work incredibly rewarding. “For me, being a museum registrar has been just a wonderful career for someone who loves art but is an introvert,” she shares.

As the Guercino exhibition in Rome concludes at the end of January, the paintings will make their return journey to Austin, accompanied by another dedicated courier. The Blanton will continue its mission of preserving and sharing its collection, thanks in no small part to the behind-the-scenes work of Sutton and her team.

The next time you visit an art museum, take a moment to appreciate the complex journey that brought those artworks to your eyes. It’s a journey that involves passion, expertise and a commitment to sharing the beauty of art across borders.

“It’s our duty to share art with the world,” says Sutton.

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